PSALM 13

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

David prays for help that his enemies may not exult over him

Psalm13.1-6

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

13 How long will You forget me, O LORD? Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

2 How long must I lay up cares within me and have sorrow in my heart day after day? How long shall my enemy exalt himself over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God! lighten the eyes [of my faith to behold Your face in the pitchlike darkness], lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4 Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him, and those that trouble me rejoice when I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

 

PSALM 14

To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David.

The general corruption of mankind

Psalm14.1-7

14 The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that hoes good or right. [Rom3.10]

2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, dealt wisely, and sought after God, inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him [of vital necessity].

3 They are all gone aside, they have all together become filthy;

there is none that hoes good or right, no, not one. [Rom3.11-12]

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,

who eat up my people as they eat bread and who do not call on the LORD?

5 There they shall be in great fear [literally - dreading a dread], for God is with the generation of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those upright and in right standing with Him).

6 You [evildoers] would put to shame and confound the plans of the poor and patient, but the LORD is his safe refuge.

7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD shall restore the fortunes of His people, then Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad. [Rom11.25-27]

 

PSALM 15

A Psalm of David.

David describes a citizen of Zion

Psalm15.1-5

15 LORD, who shall dwell [temporarily] in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on Your holy hill?

2 He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart,

3 He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;

4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he who honors those who fear the LORD (who revere and worship Him); who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 [he who] does not put out his money for interest [to one of his won people] and who will not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. [Exod22.25-26]

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